SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Jessup University Men's Basketball team showcased their signature resilience Thursday night at Point Loma, 83-92.
The opening 20 minutes proved difficult for the Warriors, as Point Loma's high-octane offense found its rhythm early. The Sea Lions shot a blistering percentage from the floor to build a 50-23 lead by the intermission. However, the "Warrior Way" was on full display after the break, as Jessup emerged from the locker room with a relentless defensive pressure that completely flipped the game's momentum.
"I'm incredibly proud of the fight our guys showed in the second half," said head coach Mark Darnall. "To be down 27 on the road and respond by winning the second half 60-42 says a lot about the character of this group. We didn't get the result we wanted, but the way we forced 27 turnovers and stayed aggressive until the final whistle is something we can absolutely build on as we continue through conference play."
Facing a daunting halftime deficit on the road, the Warriors showed grit in the final 20 minutes of play. The second-half charge was led by Tom Parsons, who turned in a massive performance off the bench. Parsons finished with a team-high 23 points, doing significant damage at the charity stripe where he knocked down 11-of-14 free throws.
Varick Lewis was a defensive catalyst for the Warriors, wreaking havoc on the perimeter to the tune of six steals to go along with his 13 points. Cayden McDaniel added 11 points, while Andre Norris chipped in 10 points and three steals in the effort.
Statistically, Jessup's defensive intensity was the story of the night. The Warriors forced Point Loma into 21 turnovers—converting those mistakes into 21 points—and recorded 16 steals as a team. While the Sea Lions finished the night shooting 60.4% from the field, Jessup's high-pressure scheme limited PLNU's opportunities late and allowed the Warriors to cut the lead to single digits in the closing minutes.
Jessup finished the night shooting 36% from the field and showed improved efficiency in the second half, connecting on nearly 55.88% of their attempts during the comeback bid.
Despite outscoring their opponents by 18 points in the second half, the Warriors could not fully climb out of an early hole. The loss moves Jessup to 6-7 overall and 3-4 in PacWest play, while the Sea Lions improve to 11-3 (6-2 PacWest).
The Warriors will look to carry the momentum of their second-half performance back home. Jessup continues their Southern Californian trip at Azusa Pacific on Saturday, January 10th. Tipoff will be at 1:00 PM.
